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1 http://wordpress.com/https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/84080f08eba88b341afdbfcd7e33d53c?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fs0.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pnghttps://battywampus.wordpress.com
Sweater Weather- REDUX!https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/09/04/sweater-weather-redux/
https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/09/04/sweater-weather-redux/#respondTue, 04 Sep 2018 22:35:33 +0000http://battywampus.wordpress.com/?p=4614Read More]]>Where I live in the Northern U.S. there is at least 3 months of autumn weather and 5 months of winter weather. That’s 8 months out of the year dedicated to sweater weather! As you can imagine, I have amassed a large collection of sweaters and leggings to keep me comfy during the colder half of the year, so here are some of my favorite Halloween themed ones.

I purchased this pale pink bat patterned sweater at H&M in 2016 for $10 and it wasn’t even on sale, that’s just how much it cost! The sizes ran kind of small when I tried it on in the store and it also shrunk ever so slightly in the wash, so if you find sweaters from H&M in the future take caution when purchasing and washing. I would suggest buying a size bigger than you think you will need.

This gray and white bat patterned sweater is from the Forever 21 Bats & Cats collection back in 2015. This collection has been discontinued but I still find them on eBay and Poshmark sometimes.

Like many Halloween enthusiasts, I stalk store websites early for hints of Halloween collections before they are released in store. I knew I had to have this “Oh Snap!” sweater when I saw it on the Kohl’s website in 2016. It’s comfortable and even after almost a year of wear it’s held up remarkably well after so many washes. Unlike other stores that have a reputation for making their shirts with flimsy material *cough-Target-cough*, Kohl’s has some quality Halloween clothes that last a long time.

Spirit Halloween has been pleasantly surprising the last couple of years. I like that they are bringing some every day wear to their stores. This shoulder cut sweater is one of the most comfortable sweaters I own and probably the most frequently worn too. For my 5’1″ height it’s an over sized sweater in all the right ways. It’s longer on the torso than average sweaters and the sleeves hit that midway point just above my wrist and right beneath my palms.

I am a sucker for black and white stripes. I favor bolder, wider stripes as opposed to thinner stripes. Too thin and I get a headache looking at them…I even found a striped pumpkin to showcase my love for the design.

This pretty Jack O’ Lantern sweater was a great find at Goodwill. Even though it has bits of glittery orange in the knit it’s comfortable to wear. The brand of the sweater is Verve Ami.

All of the leggings below are from Wal-Mart. Their designs get cooler every year and I’m excited to see what comes out this year.

I purchased this pair of spider web leggings in 2016 for $3.00. Not only are they comfortable, warm and stretchy around the waist but it’s been two years since I purchased them and albeit faded they are still in great condition.

During that year they also had a long sleeve shirt with the same design that I featured in my previoussweater weather post.

These cobweb leggings by the brand Xhilaration were found at a thrift store recently and I am obsessed with how comfortable they are.

I bought these Jack O’ Lantern face leggings in 2017 for roughly $8. It took me a few visits to realize that each section had different designs. For example, the designs that were available in the women’s plus size section were not available in the non-plus size section and vice versa.

1X was the smallest size I was able to find of this design in the plus size section and it is a little bit baggy around the waist. It fits well enough everywhere else that no one can tell with a longer shirt over it.

These velour leggings with moons and bats were also purchased in 2017 and are the most comfortable pair of leggings on the planet. I feel like I’m wearing pajamas all day. 1X was the smallest size I was able to find of this design but because of the material they are not oversized or baggy.

These metallic silver bat leggings were in the non-plus size section in 2017 and are reminiscent of themetallic gold bat long sleeved shirtI got from Walmart in 2015. They also had gold bat leggings in 2015 which I decided not to buy primarily because I have a hard time getting items with this design material. With movement over time the metallic ink pulls apart and the bat silhouettes start to look creased and broken.

These leggings were in the non-plus size section in 2017 and I am obsessed with the Nordic sweater inspired pattern. There is also a matching long sleeved shirt made with velour.

They had the same design in leggings made with velour! Although the velour version has a dark gray background instead of black I couldn’t resist, it’s ridiculously comfortable.

I hope that you enjoyed seeing my collection and I can’t wait to see the designs that come out this year. I’ll be sure to post another sweater weather blog when I’ve got more to show off.

]]>https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/09/04/sweater-weather-redux/feed/0sweaterbattywampusIMG_5756IMG_5729.jpgIMG_5737.jpgsweater 2.pngsweater.pnglegging6.pngsweater.pnglegginglegging3legging2legging5legging4Professional Dark Stylehttps://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/08/30/professional-dark-style/
https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/08/30/professional-dark-style/#respondThu, 30 Aug 2018 18:16:00 +0000http://battywampus.wordpress.com/?p=9295Read More]]>There is a fine line between what you can and can’t wear in a professional workplace and strict cookie cutter dress codes can leave people feeling confined to normality.

While dress codes may seem self-explanatory, making assumptions about what is appropriate is never a safe bet. Most places will tell you what the dress code it but if you’re still not sure what you should wear, ask your employer or coworkers for more clarification.

If you don’t feel comfortable asking then you can let the culture of the company be your guide. If the people around you generally dress up to go to work with professional attire, so should you. On the other hand if your co-workers are dressed in business casual attire, you can probably make more relaxed wardrobe choices.

Regardless of gender, when the dress code is business casual it is probably still not appropriate to wear your favorite old t-shirt, ripped jeans and ragged sneakers. Keep the “business” part of business casual in mind when choosing an outfit. Also know that every organization is different and what may be appropriate in one office may not be appropriate in the next.

In this blog post I have researched some outfits that are both appropriate and stylish for the workplace so you don’t have to!

Please keep in mind that the clothes I selected in this article are gendered as per the website they are being sold on. I am not big on gendered clothing and wholly believe that regardless of gender, these clothes can be worn by anyone. If you identify as a man and want to wear cute blouses, go for it! If you’re a woman and want to wear vests and ties, you do you! What you wear is about style choice and gender has nothing to do with it. Now let’s get started!

This Goddess Jacket fromRESTYLE is a fun play on traditional blazers. As someone with full arm tattoos that can’t be visible in most professional work environments, my suggestion is to wear a long sleeve shirt or blouse underneath if your arms need to be fully covered. Sheer bell or puffy long sleeves will give this jacket a more dramatic look.

The Draco Blouse from Spin Doctor and available on the Hell Bunny website. It’s an elegant alternative to the typical blouse and cardigan.

Have a little bit of room to play with your personal style? This Full Moon blouse by Hell Bunny isn’t subtle at all.

If you’re a Halloween lover like I am, maybe you want to bring some spooky fun to work with you during the spooky season. Modcloth has a lot of unique retro and vintage styled clothes that are well suited for the workplace. Pair this sleeveless Jack O’ Lantern top with a vest or blazer to frame the Jack-O-Lantern faces better.

If you’re looking for something that really showcases your love of Halloween, this button-up top will make your personality shine as bright as the Jack-O-Lantern faces on it. Or you can make it more subtle by pairing it with a blazer to let just the top peek out.

Accessories like scarves, bags, socks and shoes are also ways to play with your personal style at work.

These Y.R.U. Aura Boots by DollsKill will shout your Moon Child style to the heavens without being overbearing in the office.

Don’t like the cut outs but still want to keep the moon child vibe? Try these Hologram moon and star boots by HotTopic. You can cover them up with pants or keep them visible with leggings or skinny pants.

Do you prefer wearing flats instead of heels? I got you. These Starlight Ballet Flats from Killstar are a good choice.

Maybe fancy shoes aren’t your thing or you have to wear a very specific shoe for work. Try these lace top moon and star socks from Killstarto give your style a lift.

Instead of getting trapped in the cycle of wearing the same solid colored shirts every week, try Necessary Evil’s Orcus Gothic Shirt. It has an all over faux leather trim, oversize collar and cuff detail to help you stand out.

The Slaine Shirtby Necessary Evil is a basic black shirt but the little the silver popper studs, over sized cuffs and epaulettes on the shoulders give it character.

This Wings of Desire shirt from Gothmall isn’t very subtle but gives a great edge to every day work wear.

This Asymmetrical Stand Collar Blazer from Rebel’s Market is both stylish and work appropriate. It’s asymmetry is a fun play on traditional blazers. BONUS, it even comes in multiple colors: Gray, black and white.

Break away from the typical with this Asymmetrical Vest from Rebel’s Market which is versatile enough for both professional and personal lifestyles.

I found a wonderful design by Jeansian Garment Factory by accident on Amazon. This Black and Red button-up shirt is a great contrast to boring solid colored shirts.

Another hit from Rebel’s Market is this Irregular Design Suit Jacket that vaguely reminds me of Keanu Reeves in John Wick. It’s just off-putting and stylish enough to make someone look at you twice.

Another design by Jeansian Garment Factory sold on Amazon comes in multiple colors, including black! The shoulder reminds me of a leather pauldron.

If you would like to accessorize but still want to keep it subtle, I highly recommend playing up shirt collars. There are a plethora of pins you can use to accessorize a plain outfit.

Here are a few collar pins that I’ve found to give your work attire a lift while still remaining work appropriate.

These wolf chain collar pins come in a variety of colors and the chain can be removed if you don’t want a ton of embellishment.

If you want to get really spooky then these Spiderweb Pins from Spook Shop are a great collar accent. Photo by Mortemmothon Instagram.

If you wear a tie at work it’s a wonderful way to show off your own personal style. You can make it as loud or understated as you want. My recommendation if you’re bored with traditional ties is to play with different fabrics and textures. Wear a leather, velvet or lace tie if you feel like being adventurous.

I think ties with studs on them are creative and fun but I couldn’t find a lot of pre-made ones available online. However if you have the time to dedicate, stud presses are cheap and available at any hobby store. This means you can make them yourself at home with ease! Making them at home also gives you plenty of leeway for design when choosing a tie design to embellish.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post about professional dark styles in the workplace. It was fun to write and research different pieces that were not only stylish but also toned down enough to be considered professional and I would love to write another one again in the future.

]]>https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/08/30/professional-dark-style/feed/0goddess jacketbattywampusgoddess-jacket.pngspin-doctor.jpgfullmoonmuffetsleeveless.jpgbebuzzworthyauramoonchildflatssocks.jpgOrcus Gothic ShirtOrcus Gothic Shirtbirdshirt.jpgrebelsmarket.jpgslimfit.jpgvest.jpgwinered.pngjohnwick.jpgJeansian.pngcollar-pin.jpgpins.pngnecktieHappy Mother’s Day!https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/05/13/happy-mothers-day/
https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/05/13/happy-mothers-day/#respondSun, 13 May 2018 23:18:40 +0000http://battywampus.wordpress.com/?p=9409Read More]]>My mother was in town for the weekend and if there’s one thing I can rely on my mother for, it’s that she’ll come help me clean my house whenever I ask (or don’t ask) her to. I’ve been living in my new place for a month now but because I was working three jobs for the last three months, I barely had any time to unpack. So my mother graciously stayed over to help me get stuff done. In return I wanted to make her an amazing breakfast on her final morning as a thank you because even though I am a grown ass adult that doesn’t really need her help, she is always willing to be there. Thank you mom!

I was originally going to make black mimosa’s but my mom doesn’t like champagne so we made black screwdrivers instead! Apparently black food coloring is hard to come by this time of year so we had to improvise by mixing blue, red and green in just the right amounts to get the shade we were looking for. These thrifted flutes made the perfect vessels for our afternoon cocktails.

An assortment of blackberries and blueberries were a delicious treat while we waited for the main course– crêpes!

]]>https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/05/13/happy-mothers-day/feed/0f23e02b5fdd64d52ed78699f267e07f7battywampus4ee6f056759cfdb0f64a05287f7a2cc3IMG_20180513_152350IMG_20180513_153252IMG_20180513_154655.jpga91414e16de746e45cf6e6628ccd4647IMG_20180513_160107FB_IMG_1526253200516FB_IMG_1526253313508Hexennacht: A History Lessonhttps://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/05/08/hexennacht-a-history-lesson/
https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/05/08/hexennacht-a-history-lesson/#respondTue, 08 May 2018 18:18:33 +0000http://battywampus.wordpress.com/?p=9382Read More]]>Hexennacht was last week and I dropped the ball on posting this blog on time. I still want to share it despite posting it late so I hope you will enjoy reading it just as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Hexennacht literally translates to “Witches’ Night” and in Germanic folklore, the night from 30 April to 1 May, Hexennacht is the night when witches are reputed to hold a large celebration on the Brocken, a sacred mountain in Germany and await the arrival of spring. The celebration has been growing in popularity among pagan communities and is held on the same night as Sankt Walpurgisnacht, which translates to “Saint Walpurgis Night”.

On this night it is said that Christians prayed to God through the intercession of Saint Walpurga in order to protect themselves from witchcraft. Christians feast on this night to celebrate the canonization of Walpurga. Given that witches gathered on this Hexennacht, the Western Christian Church established the Feast of Saint Walpurga on the same night in order counteract witchcraft.

In my opinion Walpurgisnacht is a celebration of the hostile stigmatization of pagans, while Hexennacht is a day for us modern witches to celebrate and remember our pagan ancestors who were ostracized and killed because of the beliefs that we are now freely able to express.

Modern knowledge of witches often comes from manuals written by inquisitors, religious judges and testimony by accused witches, much of which we know now was produced under duress or torture. The truth is we can’t trust a lot of the descriptions as reality, so my goal this Hexennacht is to post a blog that inspires you to learn about where the stigmas and symbols of witches and witchcraft come from.

Two of the earliest and most persistent visual markers of witches were the cauldron used to brew up toxic potions and the ability to fly. Though they seem like harmless icons of a magic and possibility, the cauldron and broomstick have unique origins.

A cauldron in general is a large metal pot or kettle for cooking and/or boiling over an open fire, with a large mouth and often with an arc-shaped hanger. Although the cauldron has fallen out of use in the industrialized world as a cooking vessel, a more common association in Western culture is the use of a cauldron in witchcraft. A cliché popularized by various fictions, including Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” and other more modern fiction.

In Celtic lore the cauldron is the symbol of the Underworld. The afterlife for ancient Celtic people, and many in Wicca today, is known as “The Cauldron of Rebirth” (Tír na nÓg, Tir na nog or the Land of the Ever-Young). The belief is that those who die pass into the Cauldron of Rebirth before being reincarnated. Learn more about the cauldron’s origins on Knot Magic 101!

A witch riding through the air became an established symbol for witchcraft in the 16th century. According to legend, witches used herbs with psychoactive properties like henbane, mandrake and nightshade in their potions, or “flying ointments.” Some historical accounts suggest witches applied these ointments to their nether regions. And what better applicator than a wooden staff? They literally used the broom to “get high”.

The broom is an image of witchcraft that comes from sources during an era when fears about witchcraft were at its peak, making much of the information unreliable and biased. For whatever reason the broomstick is one of the wild accusations that stuck and continues to be shared without knowledge of its history today. To learn more about where the iconic witches broom comes from, check out this article by The Atlantic.

Although experts aren’t sure exactly when pointed hats became associated with witchcraft, pointed hats were worn throughout ancient history as symbols of ceremony and ritual.

The most critical evidence for the use of the pointed hat to indicate witchcraft likely comes from the opinion of the Church. In the medieval period, it is believed that the clergy and devout practitioners of the faith despised the pointed hat because it reminded them of the horns of the Devil. Read more about the possibilities of the pointed hat on Ancient Origins and Slate!

Some witches derive their power from symbols. Nineteenth-century occult groups like the Golden Dawn held that the point-up pentagram represented the alignment of Spirit over the physical elements, while a point-down pentagram represented the descent of Spirit into matter or matter absorbing Spirit. It is largely this interpretation that led the religion of Wicca to adopt the point-up pentagram and Satanism the point-down version as their representative symbols. To the followers of Pythagoras, the pentagram was a sacred symbol of wholeness and health. Learn more about the pentagram on Exemplore!

Although being able to cure illnesses that were previously thought to be incurable was not necessarily a reason to accuse someone of witchcraft, it was scary to think that someone had power or knowledge beyond what humans were thought capable of. During the height of the European witch-hunting craze in the 1500s and 1600s, very few accused witches were healers or medicinal practitioners (source) because healers and midwives were considered invaluable resources. The reality is that most witch potions and brews probably contained folk remedies that still contribute to modern medicine today. Check out this article by The Smithsonian on how Witches’ Brews helped bring modern drugs to the market!

The use of magic such as using charms to bring good luck or leaving offerings for deceased loved ones can be found in almost every culture across the planet. Witchcraft typically entails common or low magic worked via simple spells, charms, and curses, as opposed to complex rituals of high or learned magic. Those who performed the latter spells and charms were often thought to have received help from dark and demonic forces, for they had knowledge beyond what was thought capable of humans.

In Rome there was discussion about witchcraft and magic to the degree of which magical practices were condemned, legally or some other way. Law prohibited any magical practices such as concocting potions and ointments, casting spells and performing works of magic aimed to commit a crime, such as murder or theft. Ancient laws usually focused on the effects of magic rather than magic itself. In the Greek world, a person could go to court over wrongful harm magic had caused them. The penalties could be as severe as any for committing an actual, physical injury or crime. To read more about the history of magic, check out this article called “A Brief History of Witchcraft” by Jasmine W.

A familiar is a shape shifting spirit or minor demon believed to serve a witch or magician as domestic servant, spy and companion, in addition a familiar was thought to help bewitch enemies or to divine information. These spirits were most often thought to take the shape of an animal to avoid suspicion. They featured prominently in many British witch trials of the period.

Many modern neopagans and witches refer to their household pets as being their “familiars” but the concept of a witches familiar originally meant something darker. It was thought that spirits would agree to help a witch if the witch would help them in return, usually by feeding the spirit with blood or some other bodily fluid like breast milk. For a modern witch to lay claim to a familiar, the animal must be of spiritual form and have made a pact with the witch. The animal is not actually an animal but is a spirit who takes on the form of one. Learn more about the history of familiars at Exemploreand witchcraftandwitches.com!

I love to learn the history of things and I hope you enjoyed learning something too. Hexennacht is a day to remember your ancestors, feel the call of the wild and embrace your surroundings. Let go on this night, for there is magic in the air and it is willing you to delight in it!

]]>https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/05/08/hexennacht-a-history-lesson/feed/01d62bd13d1fe37c8ec67cc34c6b0ad18battywampusd229294c120c9739140a0d7ee1b896d8IMG_20180430_201653_158edc73d54d46ead69b6df2aa53ce25975witchpictureIMG_40606fe0f02707c74b124006a10d7437ddffeb53e85898b4f565b773c3b0edd86aa8eb73a1caf55824dc3b750b7360adcaabimg_5271IMG_6095IMG_3297Songs & Sips: Creature Comfortshttps://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/05/03/songs-sips-creature-comforts/
https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/05/03/songs-sips-creature-comforts/#commentsThu, 03 May 2018 01:00:31 +0000http://battywampus.wordpress.com/?p=9331Read More]]>Welcome to another addition of Songs & Sips. This time I’ll be covering the drinks and songs of a creature close to my heart- werewolves!

The Necro Nom-Nom-Nomicon makes some of my favorite ghoulish drinks, desserts and delicacies. The author graciously created a one of a kind cocktail cake called “Ding Dong Dead Cakes” for me to share here on Battywampus and it looks just as delicious as it sounds. She and I both wanted to find unique ways to re-interpret a classic cocktail, the Colorado Bulldog. Check it out on the website link above!

When asked what her favorite wolf themed song was, she said “The Lion and The Wolf” by Thrice. Although the song isn’t specifically about werewolves, its haunting atmosphere will make you just the right amount of uneasy.

Lyric Sneak Peek“And what a monstrous sight he makes,
Mocking man’s best friend,
When both the wolf and lion crave,
The same thing in the end.”

While I don’t have the exact recipe ratios for this drink, you can learn all about how to make a great whiskey sour (with or without egg whites) here at The Kitchn.

Image by The Minty

“The Wolf” by The Sweeplings is eerie and enchanting. The lyrics tell a story that could be plucked straight from a storybook or a film.

Lyric Sneak Peek“I knew a wolf, a weary one,
Come through the gates with iron tongue,
Keep the wolf, keep the wolf at the door,
Out of the gray the beast may roam,
Hang on the words no harm will come,
Hide away, hide away from you.”

“Wolves” by Sam Tinnesz ft. Silverberg is a hard turn from the previous song. It’s a fast paced pop song that that will get your heart pumping.

“The Red Riding Hood” cocktail by Saveur is made with root beer, lemon juice and red currant preserves. A tempting treat for anyone seeking liquid courage to walk through the forests late at night…

“Little Red Riding Hood” by Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs is one of those songs that I could listen to forever. Amanda Seyfried covered this song for her feature film “Red Riding Hood” and it’s more somber than the original. I’ll post both versions below and let you decide which version you prefer (or maybe you’ll enjoy both like me!)

Lyric Sneak Peek“What big eyes you have,
The kind of eyes that drive wolves mad,
So just to see that you don’t get chased,
I think I ought to walk with you for a ways.”

“The Full Moon Rising” cocktail by Deep South Magazine appropriately features Rougarou Full Moon Rummixed with pumpkin puree, ginger beer and walnut bitters. You can find other types of Rougarou Rum available on the Donner-Peltier Distillers website.

“Howl” by Florence + The Machine was the first song from Florence that I’d ever heard and I fell in love with her music instantly. Her melodies are both a blessing and a curse because I can sit and listen to her for hours without waver, but it’s worth every minute.

Lyric Sneak Peek
“If you could only see the beast you’ve made of me,
I held it in but now it seems you’ve set it running free,
Screaming in the dark, I howl when we’re apart,
Drag my teeth across your chest to taste your beating heart.”

This “Wolfsbane Serum” by 2 Geeks Who Eat is a playful cocktail that combines Creme de Violette and lime juice in a syringe with a glass of club soda for a unique flavor and drinking experience.

“Wolves” by Ben Howard is somber and heartfelt. I enjoy all of the songs on his album “Every Kingdom” but I can’t help singing out loud when this one starts playing.

Lyric Sneak Peek“Where you been hiding lately,
Where you been hiding from the news?
Cause we’ve been fighting lately,
We’ve been fighting with the wolves.”

“She Wolf” by Shakira is an oldie but a goodie from 2009. Like most of her songs it is upbeat and sexy however this one hits a sweet spot for supernatural lovers in particular.

My contribution to this whole thing is a vegan version of the Colorado Bulldog that I like to call “Hair of the Dog” Although a Bulldog may not be a werewolf, it still has a vicious bite.

Traditionally Colorado Bulldogs are made with 1 part vodka, 1 part coffee liqueur, 1 part cream and a splash of Coke to your taste. To make it vegan I substituted the cream with almond milk. For those of you who can’t drink almond milk, I would recommend soy or rice milk in its place. Stay away from plant protein milk for this drink because it creates a very NASTY texture.

I also added a thin layer of Hershey’s chocolate sauce at the bottom and instead of coke I used root beer. You can also make this drink virgin by adding your favorite vegan coffee drink substitute. I recommend Califa almond milk mocha!

One of my favorite werewolf songs is “Werewolf’s Eyes” by Birch Book. The song is a mournful channeling of the double life of a werewolf and it was created for Malört Förlag, book publisher with a unique twist. For every book they publish they also release a soundtrack album. WerewolfSongs is the companion for their newly released book “VarulvenIsvenskfolktradition” which is an exploration of lycanthropic Swedish folklore that was first published in 1943 by author Ella Odstedt. Multiple artists have songs within the album based on the contents of the book but this one happens to be my favorite.

Lyric Sneak Peek
“I thought you called my name so clear but howls are all I hear,
They are not yours my dear, my love.
Yet that shadow in disguise who stares through werewolf’s eyes,
who are you?”

I hope you’ve enjoyed the werewolf themed drink recipes and songs I’ve shared so far. If you’d like to find more songs specifically about werewolves you can search through a more comprehensive list here on www.werewolves.com

As for me, I’ll be listening to these songs in a drunken haze waiting for my werewolf prince to whisk me away into the moonlight. Enjoy!

]]>https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/05/03/songs-sips-creature-comforts/feed/3wolfbattywampusall finished and split openwolf2.jpgredriding.jpgrougarouwolfsbane.jpgsilverbulletsbulldogaf7f452697039eca62a2b4a47e4504d2-e1525314060669.jpgFeatured Fashion- Swank Metalsmithinghttps://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/04/14/featured-fashion-swank-metalsmithing/
https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/04/14/featured-fashion-swank-metalsmithing/#respondSat, 14 Apr 2018 20:45:14 +0000http://battywampus.wordpress.com/?p=9352Read More]]>Swank Metalsmithing is a family owned business started by Gary Swank in 1973. It was originally called the Silver Hammer and is now called Gary Swank Jewelers. It is located at 1309 SW Broadway in Portland, Oregon and considering their business location it’s no surprise that they have a few eclectic pieces in their stock.

All of their work from wax, casting, metalwork, stone setting, polishing and finishing is done in house at their shop in Portland. The Etsy shop is currently run by Gary’s daughter, Chelsea Swank.

One of their most recent designs and my personal favorite, are these limited edition Best B(W)itches Witch Hat Rings. They feature bat, moon and star symbols along the brim of the hat and crystal points to make the tip. The link above is for a set of both the onyx and rose quartz rings together but you can also find the onyx ring and the rose quartz rings sold individually.

The Dark Moon Coffin ring is listed as one of the shops memento mori designs and one of the prettiest coffin rings I have seen in a long time. The top of the ring is 20mm’s long and the band is 3mm’s wide, making this a statement ring you may want to consider being buried with.

The Gothic Toi et Moi Mourning ring features twin snakes wrapped around pressed matte black glass cabochons from the 1800’s that are indented with tiny stars. It was created for the 2017 Mabs Drawlloween challenge for October 19th with the prompt “Creepy Twins.”

This Skull and Posy Cocktail ring is made with a clear crystal quartz pyramid over a blackened silver skull. The pyramid quartz creates a fractal which from certain points you see only one skull and from others you can see four.

This Gothic Bat Wing ring features a rose cut Amethyst set in a dark oxidized sterling silver bat wing setting. It is offered as an engagement set as well for you spooky lovers looking for a unique way to display your love.

The Mothman ring was designed as part of the 2017 Mab Graves October Art Challenge for the October 4th prompt of the same name. The crystal orb above the skull can be swapped out with different stones identified in the Etsy listing.

The Gothic Snake and Crescent Moon ring is described on her listing as “just the right amout of macabre tempered with beauty” and I have to agree. The black moissanite with black diamond combination is alluring and reminds me of a dark Bayou.

The Gothic Black Diamond and Snake Halo ring is another beautiful snake piece to admire. The two intertwined snakes bite onto the top while their tails wrap together to meet at the bottom where a tiny black diamond is set.

Labradorite’s eerie blue, green and grey tones make it one of my favorite stones. I was on the hunt for the perfect wedding ring for months and I finally found it in Swank Metalsmithing. When I saw this Labradorite Cosmos engagement ring set I knew immediately that these are the rings I want to have on my finger on my wedding day. Time to save up!

From what I can tell there is room for customization in most of the jewelry. A lot of the listings offer the ability to change up the metals with yellow gold, rose gold, white gold or sterling silver. They also have options for different stones available if you don’t like what is listed. You can always check the Etsy FAQ section or contact Chelsea on Etsy directly if you have any questions.

Visit jeweler and metalsmith Chelsea Swank on her social media sites below!

]]>https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/04/14/featured-fashion-swank-metalsmithing/feed/0hatbattywampushsring.jpgcoffinringMSring3skullbatwingmothman-e1523669218911.pngsnakesnake2.jpgmineSongs & Sips: Sinful Temptationshttps://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/04/09/sinful-songs-sips/
https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/04/09/sinful-songs-sips/#commentsMon, 09 Apr 2018 17:30:07 +0000http://battywampus.wordpress.com/?p=9313Read More]]>I’ve been listening to music a lot lately and noticed that many of the songs in my playlist are hell or devil themed. I thought it would be a great opportunity to showcase some of my favorite songs with drink recipes to sip on while you listen.

This Michelada recipe from Food Geeks and Bloody Mary recipe from Souffle Bombay are delicious and the best part is that you can make them as spicy or mild as your palate will allow. Just remember that it’s not hell if you don’t feel the pain..

I found “Hellfire” by Barnes Courtney on Youtube as a recommended song based on the previous songs I’d listened to and I’m so happy that I took a chance on it because I found a new musical artist to love. The chorus where Barns Courtney sings “Hellfire, hellfire, take my soul!” makes the perfect chant to sing along to.

Lyric Sneak Peek“Down in the forest,
With the devil in me,
I’ll remember the looks on their faces,
Through the sycamore trees.”

This Piña Ghoul-ada by The Necro Nom-Nom-Nomicon is made with rum, coconut milk, and pineapple juice. The blogger has a playful way of describing her recipe as being made from ectoplasm rather than coconuts, but coconuts are an acceptable substitute.

“Wicked Ones” by Dorothy is upbeat, fast and fun. It’s a bluesy, drive with the windows down and bob your head to the beat song and many of her other songs have similar tones.

Lyric Sneak Peek“This night ain’t for the holy man with the holy plan,
For the promise land,
This night we got the evil hand,
And the evil hand gonn’ raise the dead.”

This pomegranate and blackberry beauty by BBC Good Food tastes as amazing as it looks! (Skeleton companion optional)

“Trouble” by CRMNL makes my Halloween heart happy Just take a look at the lyrics in the first chorus below!

Potion De Muerto by Drinkwire is a bloody delight if you like Tequila and an unholy terror if Tequila doesn’t like you. It will lie to you and tell you that you’re the only one it desires but it’s lying to you and you’ll drink it anyway because you always do. That’s what insanity is you know, doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different outcome. Best of luck navigating that special hell in the morning!

“Hold Me Down” by Halsey has an rhythm that keeps your fingers tapping.

Lyric Sneak Peek“I sold my soul to a three-piece,
And he told me I was holy,
He’s got me down on both knees,
But it’s the devil that’s tryna,

Hold me down, hold me down
Sneaking out the back door, make no sound…”

I picked up a bottle of Door County Hallowine last year and I adored the bottle so much that when I finished it off (rather quickly I might add), I filled it with fairy lights and plugged it in as a lamp!

The Hallowine is a sweet apple wine heavily spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. It’s companion Witches Brew is a semi-dry traditional blend of three wines: Syrah, Plum and Strawberry.

I’m 29-years-old now and only one year away from leaving my 20’s behind. There’s something daunting about getting older for some people. Maybe it’s the expectation to be wiser or maybe the loss of what could have been is setting in, but I will not be moved. My life has been a rollercoaster of good, bad and everything in between and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Here’s to a new age and all the experiences that come with it!

To celebrate my birthday on the blog this year, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite spooky sweets.

First up is this decadent cupcake by my good friend Tye Lombardi over at The Necro Nom-Nom-Nomicon. Rich and creamy chocolate paired with the sweet acidity of orange is a contrast of flavors that compliment each other perfectly. These cupcakes are filled with a gooey orange jelly but if you’re not a fan of Jell-O, perhaps you can substitute it for an orange marmalade instead. The chocolate bat nestled on top looks like he’s about to fly off and into my stomach.

These raspberry red velvet cupcakes from Driscoll’s feature the misunderstood creepy crawlies that people love to hate and give them a bright, colorful twist.

Back when I was a kid we used to call these “dirt cakes” and this recipe gives the name a whole new meaning. Dirt cake is an American cake made from sandwich cookies and pudding in combination with other ingredients to create a dessert that has a dirty look. The dessert is usually made by combining crushed Oreo cookies on top of chocolate pudding with gummy candy worms on top. Variations include vanilla wafers, vanilla pudding, and cream cheese pudding in the recipe.

Sunkissed designed these colorful chocolate skeletons protruding from their brownie coffins. The addition of crushed Oreo cookies gives it a gritty, dirty look and death has never looked sweeter.

Lil’ Luna created this chocolate spider trifle worth sharing. Even though I don’t have a major sweet tooth I’m a sucker for chocolate when the craving hits. It also includes crushed Oreo cookies in case you were wondering…

How can it be a birthday without a cake? This chocolate blackberry cake made by Domestic Gothess draws you in with it’s deep purple tones. There are three layers of moist chocolate cake (dyed black), filled with blackberry jam, iced with blackberry Swiss meringue buttercream, topped with blackberry ganache, protruding with purple marbled chocolate bark shards and black fondant roses. It is delicious, decadent and over the top gothic.

I have an obsession with black and white stripes so this cake is perfect. It’s another beautiful creation by Domestic Gothess that could make Beetlejuice blush.

Want to add a unique topper to your cake? This melting hand candle byCreepy Candleswill get the job done well.

I wish you could all be here to celebrate my birthday with me because I know we’d throw the biggest, spookiest party ever! Happy birthday to me and thank you for taking the time to read about what makes my creepy little heart skip a beat

]]>https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2018/04/08/happy-birthday/feed/3finished cupcake solobattywampusOriginal File Name: 9_spooky_cupcakes_3328.tifdirtskeletontrifle.jpgdomesticgothesscakecandleHaunted House Aesthetichttps://battywampus.wordpress.com/2017/12/06/haunted-house-aesthetic/
https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2017/12/06/haunted-house-aesthetic/#commentsWed, 06 Dec 2017 00:30:07 +0000http://battywampus.wordpress.com/?p=5623Read More]]>My house is a far cry from looking like the Gothic mansion of my dreams but little by little it’s starting to feel like it. With my wedding only a year away I don’t really have a budget set aside for home decor, so I have had to find inexpensive ways to adjust my home to fit my style.

To hold my flat screen T.V. I’m currently using a thin black glass top sofa table that I found at a thrift store for $30. It’s definitely not decadent with a Queen Anne flair but it is functional and appealing for my budget.

Halloween collectors know that you can never have too much shelf space. Since my sofa table doesn’t take up a lot of the wall space around it, I took advantage of the extra space and hung up some thrifted floating shelves to give myself more room to decorate.

The “Home Sweet Haunted Home” picture is from Michael’s (2017) and the two other pictures are from Target (2017), the “SPOOKY” lettered pumpkins are from Tuesday Morning (2016), the black hand is from JoAnn Fabrics (2017) and the black “BOO” letters are from Walmart (2017)

This black coffin tray is from JoAnn fabrics (2017) and I use it as a remote bin!

I would like to say this beautiful black and white striped chair is a thrift store find but even my wallet won’t allow me to tell that lie. I found it at Marshall’s two years ago for a pretty penny (all 20,000 of them!) 20,000 pennies = $200! and worth every penny I spent.

It is still one of my, and both of my cats, favorite pieces of furniture.

A local carpenter was selling unpainted versions of this coffin shaped bookcase over the summer and I decided to purchase it back when I had more money to buy such frivolous and beautiful things. I even commissioned him to paint it in my favorite color- BLACK! For an extra cost of course.

The skeleton dress form that I have lovingly bestowed with the name “Cordelia” was found at Home Goods (2017) for $40. I plan use her as a clothing model on Battywampus!

Ideally it would be full of books containing potions, spells and charms but it’s barren right now because I’m in packing mode. We are moving next year!

Two years ago I asked my grandfather, who is a carpenter, to build me a set of matching coffin bookshelves. Despite my strange request he built them for me anyway because he loves me. I have one on each end of my couch to hold my DVD’s~

The nesting tables were purchased separately, sanded down and re-painted from their original flowery white and green to a more Gothic black and gold.

I found this mirror at a thrift store for $6.99 but anyone can purchase it at Ikea herefor $39.99. I personalized it with some cute black plastic bats that I got for free at a garage sale two years ago. They were used as jar fillers for Halloween but I decided to glue them along the rim of this mirror for added flair.

It turned out much nicer than I expected and it’s one of my favorite DIY pieces. I haven’t been able to track down more of these plastic bats online yet, but I hope to find more so I can make another mirror with them.

SPEAKING OF BATS!

I bought these sheer and flocked velvet bat curtains from Target in 2014 on clearance. I didn’t even know they existed until I had my hands on them and I have never seen them anywhere since. I’ll probably gift them as an heirloom when I die.

]]>https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2017/12/06/haunted-house-aesthetic/feed/1IMG_3355battywampusIMG_8468IMG_8436IMG_8473chair.jpgimg_5360IMG_8556IMG_8559IMG_8516IMG_8584.jpgIMG_8583.jpgPortobello By Inspire Collectionhttps://battywampus.wordpress.com/2017/11/28/portobello-by-inspire-collection/
https://battywampus.wordpress.com/2017/11/28/portobello-by-inspire-collection/#respondTue, 28 Nov 2017 00:30:17 +0000http://battywampus.wordpress.com/?p=9070Read More]]>According to their website, the Portobello by Inspire range is bone china with a vintage feel and the collections are Influenced by Portobello Road in London. The unique street is renowned for its vintage boutiques and trendy markets, where individual crafts and fashions tempt worldwide trendsetters.

They sell bowls and mugs on their website but most notably for Halloween collectors, their Halloween mugs are seen at Home Goods, TJ Maxx and Marshall’s.

I’ve only been collecting their mugs for a couple of years but there are already so many designs to choose from. That means I have to be selective with which ones I take home, otherwise I wouldn’t have enough space for them all. Here is what I have so far!

Trick or Treat

The one that started my collection! The diluted ink blotch scenery reminded me of the Illustrations by Stephen Gammell in the “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” books. I frequently read them when I was younger and had to have it!

Poison

Pops of bright orange and green are a beautiful contrast against diluted black silhouettes of small children dressed as witches with pumpkin pails and broomsticks in hand.

Spooky

These spooky silhouetted cameos have a classy look.

Witches Brew

Back with more diluted ink silhouettes! I love these broom riding witches and this mug is probably one of my favorites. (Shhh! Don’t tell the others.)

You’ve Been Poisoned

This witch has hung her things up to dry while I’ve been sipping on her homemade tea. Although something doesn’t taste quite right…

Happy Halloween

What a bright delight! A good departure from all the black.

Happy Haunting

Back to black! These skinny guys don’t seem to mind though.

Trick or Treat- Cat Remix!

This mug has a charm that only black cats can provide.

They are fairly large, delicate mugs and I don’t have enough space for all of them in my kitchen cabinet so the entire collection is currently packed away. When we move next March I plan to get a hutch so I can display them properly alongside other similarly delicate dishware.